Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

"It's threats, it's abuse, it's derogatory comments about my family, about me personally. This guy is out to get me out of my own home. He's actually said to me, I want you out of the street, I don't like you."

Craig said he had done nothing to antagonise Lester but admitted he had called police.

In January, Lester was recorded by police abusing Craig and was charged with common assault, committing public nuisance and obstructing police.

Lester's neighbour Craig has filmed his threats. () ()

He pleaded guilty in March and received a a probation order with no conviction recorded.

"But that didn’t stop him," Craig said.

"The verbal abuse has just got worse."

In desperation, Craig called A Current Affair.

Lester threatened Chris Allen and the camera crew. () ()

After interviewing Craig a three-man crew from Nine’s weeknight news program were physically and verbally abused by Lester in the street.

Vision played on the program shows Lester hitting the cameraman with a stick, grabbing me in a headlock and threatening to "eat (my) face off".

Craig Moore, who sold the house to Craig Merriman, admitted he wanted to move out because of Lester Sutherland.

"Lester was certainly one of the factors that made me sell the property and move on out of the street," he said.

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"He certainly changed the whole neighbourhood. People were afraid to wonder around the street. The people across the road moved on. Not a good man."

The graffiti has now been painted over and Craig Merriman said he wasn't going anywhere.

"I've got friends who say, Craig why don't you just move, why do you put up with this rubbish," he said.

"And I'm thinking this is my home. Why should I move from my own home because of a neighbour that's stark raving mad."